POLICE are using the humble lawnmower as their latest weapon for a blitz on the borough's burglars.

Mowers, hedge trimmers and power cleaners are just some of the tools detectives from Dudley police have fitted with tracking devices to stop criminals in their tracks.

Officers set up shop at the Ryemarket, Stourbridge, today (Thursday) to showcase the kit, which uses tiny CCTV cameras and satellite data to track stolen goods.

Visitors were given live demonstrations and a sneak preview of footage captured by the state-of-the-art technology ,which can be fitted inside sheds, garages and out buildings.

Several so-called capture sheds will be set up across the borough, in areas where there has been a spate of burglaries, in a bid to catch the crooks.

Detective Sergeant Matt Morgan said: "We have been using capture technology across the borough since 2012 and have had numerous successes in identifying and tracking down offenders.

"We’re now seeing record lows in burglary across Dudley with such crimes being driven down from highs of 2,371 in 2002/13 to 837 in 2013/14.

"While much of this is down to good old fashioned police work and more secure homes, we also know that capture technology is one of the things criminals fear most."

He continued: "With this knowledge, we’re now rolling the same kit out to keep sheds secure. We’re happy to tell people we’re using this equipment and we’ll even be showing them how it works. But what we won’t be revealing is where and when this will be installed."